Wed. Dec. 2 – Thurs Dec. 3, 2015  

Columbus MS. to Demopolis AL. 

 

We are on the move again after a 7 month hiatus in Columbus.

Our first day back on the water was quite eventful. We started out with an hour delay because of a tow to get into our first lock.  About 2 hours into the cruise our AIS stopped working. AIS is a tool that lets us know the Tows/barges whereabouts and their names. Cruising in the rivers you meet and pass several tows every day and we need this information to call them on the radio to find out which side to pass them on. Thankfully we were traveling with 3 other boats and they had working AIS. Randy no sooner had the AIS up and working and our Port engine decided to over heat. We turned it off but could keep running with just the Starboard engine while he went to locate the problem. The first thing he checked was the strainers because there were a lot of plants floating on the water and it is easy to suck those up. Sure enough all he needed to do was clean out the strainers and than took a vacuum to blow out (back flush) the hoses, and we could turn that engine back on.

Stennis lock with floating Hyacinth plants.

 

The rest of that day went a lot better. Even the next lock was ready for us with no waiting for a tow. After traveling 65 miles we pulled into our anchorage for the night at Sumpter Recreation Area MM# #269.9 on the TennTom waterway.

Traveling along the river.

 

Sumpter Recreation Area anchorage.

 

 

Our second day on the water we started out @ 0630, had only 1 lock to go through and had an uneventful day cruising. The sky was cloudy and the temperature dipped to 32 degrees, but as the day wore on the sun came out and the temps. reached 55 degrees. We reached Demopolis AL. by 1230, fueled up and took a slip for the night.

White Cliffs of Epps.

 

 One of the couples we are traveling with. (Rolfe & Harriet)

 

 2 other couples we are traveling with. (Dick, Pat, Paula, & Jim)